Important: This review is only for people who all are looking for commuting bike in 100 to 125 cc not for people who race and not for people who need great power in a commuting bike. This review is from my personal opinion about the various bikes and please do not think that I am hurting any ones feeling about their bikes.
Note: I incorrectly posted this review in another topic "Hero Passion Xpro" so re-posting my review under this topic here "Hero MotoCorp Passion xPro"
Nowadays, there are several variants of bikes available in the market. If we go 10 years back there weren’t these many bikes available. It all depends on your requirement to choose one from this plenty of bikes available.
I decided to buy 110 to 125 cc bike because you can see my requirement below. I don’t want to go to 100cc bikes because I don’t want to make the engine to cry to reach 70/ 80 KMPH and expect 8 BHP on the small engine.( But there is one engine available in the market, Please see Discover 100T) .
My Requirement for a commuting bike with Self-Disc-Alloy:
Mileage because I ride 40 to 45 KMS per day
Reasonable power - to overtake the take the long buses or long trucks on Chennai roads( bye-pass)
Good Handling
Not more concerned about styling
Tubeless tyres
Price( My Budget not more than 65 K)
Then I started drill down the bikes which are available in the market in this segment. I had below commuting bikes in my mind and you can see the rejection reasons & Pros for them. I test drove all the following bikes with pillion rider. All of my friends and colleagues I have these bikes except Discover 100 T and Gladiator SS 125cc.( The rejection reason may be so stupid but please forgive me)
1. Hero Ignitor 125 cc
Rejection Reasons: Doubt in mileage, there aren’t too many bikes on the road, there were rumors that Hero may be going to stop the production and it’s a clone of Honda CBF Stunner. This bike is exceeding my budget.
Pros: Good styling and ergo.
2. Hero Passion XPro 110 cc( Technically 109.1 cc)
3. Honda CB Shine 125 cc
Rejection Reasons: I rode my friends CB Shine new bike, I didn’t feel that I am riding 125 cc bike and then I test drove from Honda Showroom still no luck. But Honda may tune down the power to get good mileage.
Pros: Honda’s refined smooth engine and decent Ergo
4. Honda Dream Yuga 110 cc
Rejection Reasons: Honda Spares are too costly and their after sale service been always a problem( I believe most of the people agree with after sale service in Chennai Honda show rooms) . Maintenance is costly.
Pros: When I rode this bike I felt this is a good 110cc bike, you can feel enough power. You can feel what 110cc engine should supposed to do. Decent power, always nice mileage 55 to 60+ based on my friends and users
5. Honda CB Twister 110 cc
Rejection Reasons: I use to hear from friends that the bike will skid too much due to thin tyre at rear and people always say that we need to give too much care for chain and chain sprocket because it use to create noise regularly. Test drive experience was average. Personally I don’t like that thin tyre at rear.
Pros: Nice Styling and design in 110cc segment and Hondas refined Engine
6. Bajaj Discover 125 ST
Rejection Reasons: When I test drove this bike. It fulfilled all my requirements which I wrote above but I felt there was a bad vibration when I open the throttle on a long stretch road( Speedo didn’t work on that test drive bike, I guess the show room people always do that) . I checked with my friends and website review’s everybody said that there are some vibrations after 50 KMPH. I went to friends desk and pull out his Discover 125 ST keys and I drove it. Yes, after 50 to 55 KMPH there is bad vibration but after 60 KMPH and above the vibration reducing but still not its comfortable with that less vibes.
Pros: For 65 to 67 K Mono-Shocks, Good torque in 125 cc, decent styling and decent ergo.
7. Bajaj Discover 100 T( Highest BHP in 100cc Segment)
Rejection Reasons: Oh my god! You can’t expect this much power in 100cc bikes. Its engine is really a good one in this 100 cc segment. I didn’t find too many negatives in review websites. The strong reason for rejection is after 1 week I test drove this 100T to my shock Bajaj released another bike named 100M. What’s going on with Bajaj?!. There are no difference in 100T and 100M except in 100M they reduced the BHP. Even in 100T I felt vibration above economy speeds so rejected this.
Pros: Great power in 100cc segment, decent mileage and I doubt in another 2 months Bajaj will release 100R.
8. Yamaha Gladiator SS 125 cc
Rejection Reasons: The reviewers from mouthshut and other sites praised this bike. Even I love Yamaha bikes because of its engines power and smoothness of engine. I test drove this bike, I didn’t impressed too much for this bike for its design, suspension and styling
Pros: come on its YAMAHA
Finally I had 2 bikes in my mind one is Honda Dream Yuga and other one is Hero Passion XPro.
Honda Dream Yuga:
Mileage: 55 to 60+( at economy speed per reviewers)
Disc Brakes: No
Instrument cluster: Out Dated
Tubeless Tyres: No
5 years warranty: No
No. Free Services: For sure not more than 3
Handling: Good
Kerb Weight: 108 KG
At 60 KMPH: Rider can control
Braking at 60 KMPH: Excellent( even though it doesn’t have disc)
At 60 to 70 KMPH: Engine is kind of crying
At 70 KMPH: Felt very light or no road grip
Braking at 70 KMPH: Good( I felt like the bike may skid if I apply brakes)
AT 80 KMPH: Completely out of control due to low kerb weight of the vehicle
Braking at 80 KMPH: Come on! They are drum brakes
To reach 80 KMPH: Takes its own sweet time but these are 110cc engines
At 90 KMPH: I don’t think it’s safe in this segment
After sale service: ask your friends for Honda’s after sale service
Maintenance: Costly
Spares Rate: Costly
Resale for Honda Bikes: Good
Handling: Average
On-road price in Chennai for Dream Yuga as on 04/11/2013 is 60 K
Hero Passion XPro:
( Clone of its previous Passion Pro and the engine is Yuga’s but I felt Hero tuned this engine in XPro)
Mileage: 55 to 65+( at economy speed per reviewers)
Disc Brakes: Yes
Instrument cluster: Digital for Trip, Odo and Fuel
Tubeless Tyres: Yes( MRF)
5 years warranty: Yes( No hidden cost or extra charge)
No. Free Services: 9( Om Motors, Chennai)
Handling: Good
Kerb Weight: 116 KG
At 60 KMPH: Rider can control
Braking at 60 KMPH: Excellent
At 60 to 70 KMPH: Absolutely engine not crying to reach till 80 KMPH
At 70 KMPH: Felt tight on road and you get a confidence to open the throttle more
Braking at 70 KMPH: Excellent
AT 80 KMPH: Vehicle is on rider’s control
Braking at 80 KMPH: Good but not outstanding
Little quicker than Yuga( Please do not compare with 125 or 150cc bikes)
I don’t think it’s safe in this segment
After sale service: Best
Maintenance: Average
Spares Rate: Comparatively lower than Honda
Resale for Hero Bikes: I can only say after 2 years( Of course, I am going to ride the bike not to sell)
Handling: As same as passion models handling and better than that.
On-road price in Chennai for XPro as on 04/11/2013 is 65.5 K
My Verdict:
Why should I go for a bike( Honda dream Yuga) which doesn’t have digital cluster, tubeless tyres, disc brake and for a high maintenance? And I feel Hero Passion XPro an outdated design because one should take a close look on XPro to identify that this is not a Passion Pro. I personally don’t like the slash cut exhaust pump in XPro( Slash cut silencer) .
Personally and finally I booked Hero Passion XPro because it fits my requirement( for its digital cluster, tubeless tyres, disc brakes and with low maintenance) the price difference is just 5.5 K so I booked Hero Passion XPro.
I will keep you posted about the bikes performance regularly. Please feel free to put your comments. Thanks for taking a time to read my review.